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P. SAUMENIG. EXHIBITION CHICKEN 0001 2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.)

No. 581,372. Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

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FRANK SAUMENIG, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE INVINOIBLE HATOHER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

EXHIBITION CHICKEN-COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,372, dated April 27, 1897.

Application filed October 21, 1895. Serial No. 566,329. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK SAUMENIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exhibition Chicken-Coops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in coops designed for exhibiting chickens and other fowl at fairs and similar exhibitions.

The object of my invention is to provide a coop of light construction which shall be capable of being reduced to small compass for shipping or storing and at the same time be cheap in construction and efficient in operation. I attain this object by the constructions shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodyin g my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view in detail illustrating the means for setting up and retaining the parts in position. Fig. 4: is a sectional elevation, partly broken away, of the table. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing portions of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail View in section of the partition and side frames. Fig. 7 is a detail view in perspective showing the arrangement of the door.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the said drawings, a a represent a table or support which is also adapted to form the bottom for a coop or coop-section. Each section is divided into a series of compartments or coops proper,five being shown in the construction illustrated in the drawings. The

table or support a rests on legs a a, whichare connected in pairs by cross-bars a (t the crass-bar a being secured to the legs flush or substantially flush with the tops of the legs, and the cross-bar a being secured thereto at a point slightly above the bottom thereof. The table a has on the bottom near each end two cleats a a at a distance apart equal to the thickness of the cross-bar a which is adapted to fit between the same. The cleat a is of substantially the same length as the crossbar a that is, the full width of the table a, while the cleat a is adapted to fit between the legs aa, as shown in Fig. 5. Each table is further provided at the center with a batten or block a, the sides of which are provided with dovetailed recesses adapted to fit the beveled ends of brace-bars a as shown in Fig. 4: the opposite ends of said bars being notched to fit the upper inner corners of the lower cross-bars a of the legs a. A tie rod or bar a having hooked or notched ends, is adapted to fit over the cross-bars a and tie the same together, thus forming a truss to support the table or coop-bottom a.

Each coop preferably consists of two vertical frames 1) and h, each composed of railpieces b and standards b The standards I) are placed at a distance apart corresponding to the compartments into which the section is divided, and the front frame I) is filled between the standards with wires or bars I), which are secured at each end in the railpieces b covered with a strip 19 of canvas or similar textile fabric. Each of the standards b is provided on its inside with small strips or cleats b, the end standards in each section having one of these cleats and each of the intermediate standards having two cleats. Adapted to fit between the cleats of the intermediate standards are partitions c, which preferably consist of frames 0, having a canvas or other suitable cover 0 These partitions 0 are adapted to fit between the strips b on the standards and are secured to said standards by pivoted hooks c on said partitions, which are adapted to engage with pins b placed in mortises 5 formed in the sides of said standards, the cleats being preferably cut away to permit the hooks to be inserted into the mortises and engage with said pins. (See Figs. 3 and 6.) The cleats b at the ends of the respective sections are placed at a distance from the ends of the side frames equal to half the thickness of the partition-frame, so that the end partition stands with half its thickness projecting beyond the end of the side frame. The partition-frames are made of a height less than the height of the side frames, the difference in height of the two parts being equal to the thickness of the cover-frame. A top (1, constructed of side rails cl, cross-piecesd and a canvas strip or The rear frame I? is preferably 1 cover (Z is adapted to fit between the side frames and rest on the partitions, the said top or cover being flush with the tops of said side frames. The said top is also made of a length equal to the length of said side frames, so that each end partition in said section projects half its thickness beyond the top and the side frames.

\Vhen it is desired to provide a number of compartments more than is contained in a single section, another section is added thereto, in which case the end partition 0 forms a division between the sections, the adjacent ends of said side frames and tops of said sections being adapted to meet at a point opposite the middle of the width of the dividingpartition, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6. An additional table or support is provided for each section, so that when in place a continuous structure is secured having any n umber of compartments or coops desired. The coops or compartments are preferably made of a substantially uniform height, width, and depth, so that when the parts are disconnected the sides, top, and partitions will all lie flat and occupy but small space for storage or transportation.

To provide for a door in each compartment, I employ a cross-bar e, which is perforated at each end, so as to slide on two of the rods Z)", which form the front of each compartment. To this cross-bar I attach two or more rods, as shown at I). These rods b are adapted at their upper ends to slide through the top rail Z2 of the side frame 6, and they are connected to the cross-bar e by means of a brace-wire e, the ends of which are connected to the crossbar e and given a turn around the respective wires or rods b, as shown in Fig. 7, the ends being preferably bent at right angles and forced into the wooden cross-bar e and secured thereto by staples 6 In placing the brace-wire about the rods b the outside wires of the rods or bars are preferably drawn in toward each other, as shown in Fig. 7, so that when the door is elevated by sliding the cross bar 8 upwardly on the bars the wires 19", being thrown out of parallel, will bind in the openings through the top rail 1) and thus hold the gate or door in an elevated position. The bars b' being parallel for a greater portion of their length will, when loosened from the top rail, slide freely through said rail and the gate or door will drop by gravity to its normal position, so as to close the opening therein.

It will be seen from the above description that I provide a sectional exhibition-eoop which is extremely simple, light, and efiicien t.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A coop-section formed of side frames and a top, as described, and a series of detachable partitions between said side frames, the end partitions being arranged within said frames so as to project beyond the ends of said frames to furnish means for joining two or more sections together, substantially as specified.

2. In a coop, the combination of a side frame having vertical wires, a cross-bar adapted to slide on said wires and supporting two or more of said wires which are formed movable in said frame, said movable wires and cross-bar being connected by a brace-wire which is so connected as to draw said movable wires out of parallel, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of October, A. D. 1895.

FRANK SAUMENIG.

\Vitn esses:

OLIVER II. MILLER, CHAS. I. Wanna. 

